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Thursday, October 22, 2015

A Neat Manhattanfor Aunt Peggy

Margaret Malone Dyer 1919 - 2015

A very good woman just passed. She was my aunt, my mom's older sister. She was strong, intelligent, caring woman and loved being around relatives. She graduated from Kent Teachers College, now Kent State University and had a long career in teaching. She had two daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren who she loved unconditionally and like all grandmothers, hers were the brightest and cutest in the world! But she also held a place in her heart (and head) for her nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews that she saw at least once a year for the past 32 (with the exception of just a few) at the Martin Lally Memorial Golf Outing. She was one of the non golfers, but faithful attendees and, the winner of many Trivial Pursuit games. Many of us will come together to honor and memorialize her later this week. I know she will be pleased and if she could, she would hold on to us, lean into our ear and have a word of encouragement for each one of us.

I had the privilege of sharing my love of cooking for, and hosting Aunt Peggy in all of my homes - Warren, West Chester, Ann Arbor, Richmond In, and in my current home. She graced our table at a few holiday feasts, weekend dinners, outdoor grills, and parties. She never expressed to me that she had a favorite dish, but when asked on one visit, several years ago, what she would like, she responded "Lasagna." That was in my former life when I did not cook - but the ex did, so there were trips to three grocers, home made noodles, several kinds of meat, specialty cheeses and sauce- a major production done to impress! "All I wanted was a simple lasagna" she would reminisce and we would laugh about that high priced lasagna production!

She loved Manhattans - a neat Manhattan. She taught my spouse how to make one, she told him about al dente pasta and, told me to hang on to "this one" because he always cleaned up after every meal. Because many of our get togethers included conversation, appetizers and Manhattans for my mom and Aunt and wine for others, I chose to post an array of finger foods for this entry: